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Definitions

playact

[pley-akt] / ˈpleɪˌækt /
VERB
affect
Synonyms
STRONG
act adopt assume bluff contrive counterfeit fake feign sham simulate
WEAK
aspire to do a bit lay it on thick make out like put on put up a front take on
Antonyms
STRONG
stop tell the truth
VERB
do
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appear bear carry conduct give go on manage operate perform play present produce quit
STRONG
comport demean deport discourse enact fare impersonate personate portray seem
WEAK
acquit oneself come on like get along get by make out muddle through put on render the role stagger along
Antonyms
STRONGEST
direct fail halt refrain stop take withhold
WEAK
defer destroy idle lose miss neglect put off
VERB
dramatize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amplify exaggerate overstate
STRONG
act burlesque enact execute overdo perform present produce show splash stage
WEAK
farcialize give color to ham it up lay it on make a production of melodramatize play on heartstrings play to gallery play up tragedize
Antonyms
STRONGEST
reduce
STRONG
abandon fail halt ignore neglect prevent refrain refuse stop veto
VERB
enact
Synonyms
STRONGEST
achieve execute
STRONG
depict discourse do perform personate play portray represent
WEAK
appear as go on play the part of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail miss
STRONG
direct
WEAK
hinder prevent refuse repeal stop veto
VERB
impersonate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
act like imitate masquerade as mimic portray pose as
STRONG
act ape ditto do enact fake mirror perform personate play represent
WEAK
act a part act out assume character do an impression of double as dress as make like pass oneself off as play a role put on an act take the part of
Antonyms
STRONG
direct fail halt idle prevent stop
WEAK
be original differ oppose reverse
VERB
make believe
Synonyms
WEAK
act as if act as though bluff counterfeit dream enact fake fantasize feign fool imagine let on like make as if play play the part play-act pretend simulate
Antonyms
WEAK
live reality
VERB
perform
Synonyms
STRONGEST
display execute give go on offer play present produce represent show stage
STRONG
discourse dramatize emote enact exhibit ham impersonate personate render
WEAK
act out appear as be on bring down the house do a number do a turn ham it up put on tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon conceal deny hide refrain refuse take withhold
STRONG
fail
WEAK
direct halt prevent stop
VERB
play
Synonyms
STRONGEST
do perform portray present
STRONG
discourse enact execute ham impersonate personate represent
WEAK
act the part of ham it up lay an egg play a gig read a part take the role of tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail
WEAK
direct listen watch work
VERB
pose
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affect
STRONG
act attitudinize feign grandstand impersonate masquerade peacock posture profess purport sham
WEAK
make believe make out like pass off put on airs put up a front show off strike an attitude take off as
Antonyms
WEAK
be genuine go move withhold
VERB
posture
Synonyms
STRONG
affect attitudinize display fake masquerade pose
WEAK
do a bit do for effect fake it make a show pass for pass off put on airs put up a front show off
Antonyms
STRONG
withhold
WEAK
be truthful
VERB
pretend
Synonyms
STRONGEST
imitate impersonate purport suppose
STRONG
act imagine masquerade mimic play portray pose represent reproduce
WEAK
assume the role make as if make believe make out like make up put on a front put on airs put on an act
Antonyms
STRONGEST
be original differ oppose reverse
STRONG
stop
WEAK
be honest tell the truth
VERB
put on
Synonyms
STRONGEST
don fake pull
WEAK
act affect assume bluff confound confuse counterfeit deceive feign make believe masquerade pose put on a front put on an act sham simulate strike take on trick
Antonyms
WEAK
be truthful
VERB
simulate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affect mimic replicate reproduce resemble
STRONG
act ape assume bluff borrow cheat concoct copy counterfeit crib deceive disguise dissemble do equivocate exaggerate fabricate fake favor feature feign fence invent lie lift mirror misrepresent pirate play pose prevaricate steal
WEAK
act like do a take-off do like gloss over knock off make believe phony put on put on an act
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest destroy face give idle meet receive reveal tell the truth
WEAK
be real
VERB
tread the boards
Synonyms
WEAK
appear on stage perform strut one's stuff

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Norah O’Donnell, the “CBS Evening News” and “60 Minutes” journalist, said she used to playact as Ms. Walters.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2022

As a youngster, Brian liked to playact with the toys he made.

From Washington Post • Sep. 29, 2020

This is a part of the Fake Mean mode we sometimes affect with each other, which I find very soothing, because it lets us playact animosity without getting too real about it.

From Slate • Aug. 15, 2018

Do today’s guests want a 19th-century stage set on which to playact high society?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2016

The two of them playact with each other, pretending to be cordial, but only so it will make the final betrayal even sweeter.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman